Valving unit for single lever faucet



Feb. 4, 1969 P. M. VAN WINGEN 3,425,440

VALVING UNIT FOR SINGLE LEVER FAUCET Filed May 15, 1966 25 FIG 4 I62 2 8/4 42 r I 27 lo I; 50 b \HII /2 94k 48 52 I2 27 43 46 /0 INVENTOR. PETERM. VAN WINGEN United States Patent VALVING UNIT FOR SINGLE LEVER FAUCETPeter M. Van Wingen, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Wolverine BrassWorks, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 18,1966, Ser. No. 551,057

US. Cl. 137454.6 15 Claims Int. Cl. F16k 11/18, 1/38 ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A valving unit for a single lever faucet comprises a platewith a pair of openings therein. Like valving members for each of saidopenings each includes a stem which extends loosely through one of theopenings and which has a valve head on its lower end and a cam followerdimensioned and journaled for free rotation axially upon its upper end.

The present invention relates to a valving unit for single leverfaucets, and involves an improvement over the valve and faucet structuredisclosed in the issued US. Patent No. 3,190,309 of Robert A. Staat andAaron A. Staat, dated June 22, 1965.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved.

valving unit carrying a pair of valves, characterized by its ease ofvalve application, and facility of incorporating the assembled valveunit into a single lever faucet body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve memberfor a single lever faucet, which valve member is characterized by smoothand quiet operation, and an extraordinarily long trouble-free servicelife.

Another object is to provide a valving unit which is highly resistant toleakage and other malfunction ordinarily attributable to corrosion orscale accumulations in use.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate and expedite thesubstitution of valve members and valving units in the faucet whennecessary.

Another object is to provide an improved cam and follower constructionin a single lever faucet, assuring long life and extended service ofparts.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and as illustrated upon the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved valving unit incorporatingthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2,adding an actuating cam.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

The device comprises a circular substantially flat disc 8, constitutedof a rigid core piece of sheet metal or other suitable sheet material towhich a coating 12 of resilient corrosion-resistant material may beapplied. The core piece may be in the form of a flat disc which prior tocoating, is perforated to provide circular openings 14 and 16 arrangedpreferably, though not necessarily, on a diameter at opposite sides ofthe center of the core piece.

The core piece may have formed therein also an offset aperture 18, andan edge notch 20, in some instances. The purpose of aperture 18 is toprovide a by-pass opening permitting constant intercommunication betweenthe water pressure chambers and the delivery chamber of the faucet body,to feed water under pressure to a valve- 3,425,440 Patented Feb. 4, 1969ice equipped spray head. If the faucet is to include no spray head,aperture 18 may be eliminated from the core piece. The notch 20 is alocating device to cooperate with a lug or other protuberance within thefaucet body, assuring a proper disposition of the valve plate withrelation to hot and cold water feed liner entering the faucet body. Thevalve plate locating means is subject to structural modifications, aswill be understood.

At the center of core piece 10 may be fixedly anchored an upstandingrigid post or pin 22, which may be grasped at its free end 24 inremoving and replacing the valve plate unit bodily relative to the bodychambers of the valve. The post or pin may serve also as a guide memberfor an operating cam 25, in the manner disclosed by the issued patentaforesaid. The post or pin may carry a reinforcing hub 26 to be securedupon the upper face 27 of core piece 10 by welding, soldering, orotherwise, thereby to provide a rigid anchorage.

The valve elements may be identical in form and size, and each maycomprise a valve head or member 30 or 32 for closing and opening a valveport of plate 8, a cam follower 34 or 36, and a rigid stem or connector38 or 40 spacing the cam followers from the valve members or heads. Withreference particularly to FIG. 4, it is noted that connector 38 passesthrough valve port 42, to dispose cam follower 34 and valve member 30 atopposite faces of the valve plate 8. The valve element consisting ofparts 30, 34, 38, is freely shiftable transversely of plate 8, betweenlimits at which either the valve member 30 or the cam follower 34contacts the plate. The cam follower and the valve member are larger indiameter than port 42, so that normally the valve element 30, 34, 38, isin assembled relationship to plate 8.

When the assembly disclosed is incorporated in a faucet body, valvemember 30 is elevated to closing relationship with port 42, by pressureof water acting upon the lower face 44 of the valve member. Also, ifdesired, a light spring 43 may be provided, acting upon the pilot 'hub46 of the valve member to yieldingly maintain the valve member in theclosed position concentric with valve port 42. Accordingly, it will beunderstood that cam follower 34 normally is kept elevated above plate 8.In the elevated position of the cam follower, it is subject to cammingaction by the operating lever cam 25 of the faucet, which cam may applylateral force to the follower, for tilting the valve member 30 fromseating position upon port 42. Thus, the port is opened to permit flowof water therethrough, as indicated by the issued patent aforesaid.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the seat face 46 of valve number 30may carry an annular upstanding seat ring or ridge 4 8 to about themarginal seat portion 50 of port 42. Also, by preference though not ofnecessity, the perimeter of valve member 30- may be serrated or notchedas at 52, to augment flow of water when the valve is opened.

In fabricating the valve plate 8, said plate is treated, preferably overits entire area, 'with an impermeable and resilient enveloping coating12. The coating may be rubber, or a compostion which is rubber-like incharacter, having the qualities of resiliency and impermeability tofluids, particularly water. The coating may also be of such nature as toprotect the core piece 10 from con"osion, oxidation, and otherdeteriorizing effects. The -re siliency factor of the coating assuresexcellent seating of valve member 30 upon plate 8 marginally of port 42.It also discourages penmanent adherence of scale or other water-borneimpurities, particularly in the region of the port, where the valvingaction occurs. The coating material may be vulcanized or otherwiseattached to the core piece.

In fabricating the core piece 10, it may be initially formed with anundersize overall diameter, so that upon application of the coating thediameter will be increased to properly size the finished valve plate forleakproof clamping between finished parts of the faucet body and itsbonnet. In so clamping the valve plate between the faucet parts, theresilient coating itself performs a leakproof gasketing function,thereby obviating the need for separate gaskets and facilitatingassembly and servicing of the faucet.

Moreover, initial assembly of the valve plate unit as shown in theaccompanying drawing, is greatly facilitated by reason of the fact thatthe resiliency of the coating material within the interior of port 42,permits cam follower 34 to be pressed through the port from below, incompleting the assembly as disclosed by FIG. 4. This instantaneousassembly procedure requires that the port opening 14 initially formed incore piece 10, shall be made slightly larger in diameter than thediameter of cam follower 34. However, upon application of the resilientcoating within and about port opening 14, the opening will be reduced insize to form the smaller finished port 42, which latter is of lesserdiameter than that of the cam follower. Accordingly, cam follower 34cannot be passed through port 42, without the use of deliberate forceapplied axially of connector 38.

In view of the foregoing explanation, it is evident that the movablevalve elements can be initially assembled with the coated valve plate 8,by simply forcing the cam followers through the yieldable valve ports,whereupon the valve elements for all practical purposes are unitizedwith the valve plate, permitting normal handling, shipment, and storagewithout loss of parts. When replacing the valving unit of a faucet, theold unit may be lifted from the faucet body by means of pin 22, and anew unit may be substituted therefor by lowering the new unit into thebody by means of the pin. The valve elements of the unit will notseparate from plate 8, because of the undersized finished diameter ofthe valve ports 42.

The pin or post 22 extends above the level of cam followers 34 and 36,in all positions of valve element 30, 34, 38, and is of rigidconstruction. The connectors 38 are of sufiicient rigidity to ensuretilting of valve elements 30 relative to the plate seats 50, when thecam followers are displaced from perpendicularity to plate 8 bymanipulation of the faucet lever and its associated operating cam.

Of importance to the present invention is the fact that follower 34, FIG4, is freely rotatable, though not axially slidable, upon stem 38.Accordingly, any lowering and rotating of operating cam 25 when incontact with follower 34, will serve to rotate the follower relative tostem 38, thereby to greatly minimize friction and abrasive actiontending to score or mutilate the follower and thereby shorten its usefullife. As will readily be understood, wearing away of the follower at thearea of contact with cam 25, results in ultimately reducing the angle oftilting of the valve head 30, which undesirably reduces flow of fluidthrough the valve. The follower is of a softer and less durable materialthan cam 25, and is preferably plastic-molded as will be explained. Cam25 may be provided with a flat side 27, to avoid actuating the valvemembers at certain positions of the cam.

With further reference to FIG. 4, it should be noted that follower 34 isnot fully spherical in form, but instead, is of a modified sphericalform of mushroom shape, such that it may be formed in a mold withoutproducing a mold parting line and gate imperfection on the equator,where the cam may bear upon the follower. In other words, the partingline of the follower-producing mold may occur in the plane of theunderface 53, where cam 25 will not press against the follower. With theparting line and the gate of the mold situated in the plane of underface53, no finishing of the follower is necessary after extraction thereoffrom the mold, this constituting a major production advantage. Moreover,the molded follower will leave the mold with an enveloping skin, 'whichis practically non-porous and highly resistant to wear in contact withthe cam.

The material from which the follower 34 may be molded, is preferably amaterial of the class of Celcon, nylon, or an equivalent moldablesubstance possessing a desired impermeability, toughness, limitedresilience, and self-lubricating qualities. The shape of the followermay be part-spherical, but not to the extent of interfering with liftingthereof from a mold which parts at or very close to the underface 53.The minor element of the mold may be recessed to form the hub 54, andthe axial bore 56 may be formed either in the molding, or subsequentlyby drilling. Bore 56 may terminate at an upper counterbore 58, for apurpose to be explained presently.

Stern or connector 38 may be reduced in diameter to provide a bearingarea 60 upon which the follower 34 may freely rotate. At one end, thebearing area meets a shoulder 62 to support the boss 54 of the follower.The free end of stem 38 terminates in an enlargement or button 64 whichis slightly larger in diameter than the bearing area 60.

To mount the follower upon stem 38, requires the simple operation offorcing the enlarged button end of the stem through the bore of thefollower, until the button emerges at counterbore or recess 58, thisbeing possible due to the inherent resiliency of the material of whichthe follower is for-med. The button precludes subsequent accidentaldisplacement of the follower from the stem, and fits loosely within thecounterbore so as to afford no interference with free rotation of thefollower. The top of the button may be chamfered at 66, to easeinsertion into the follower bore during assembly.

The followers 34 and 36 preferably are identical construction, and .bothwill be applied to the stems 38 and 40 in accordance with the procedurerecited above. The followers may be applied to the stems before thevalving members are applied to plate 8, if desired, due to the fact thatthe followers are insertable through the plate openings 42 with limitedfrictional resistance. Of course, the followers might be applied to thestems after insertion of the stems through the plate openings. In eithercase, assembly of the unit as best illustrated :by FIG. 1, involves asimple and rapid procedure having meritorious production advantages,with substantial savings of time and labor.

Ability of the followers 34 and 36 to rotate freely upon theirrespective stems, greatly enhances the faucet performance and assureslong-term trouble-free service. Replacement of parts, if and whenrequired, is accomplished with ease and dispatch, with a minimum ofservicing expense.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may bemade in the structural details of the device, within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A valving unit for single level faucets, comprising: a plateincluding a post upstanding upon one face of the plate, said plate.having a pair of valve openings therethrough which define valve seatsmarginally thereof at the opposite face of the plate; a pair of valvingmembers each comprising a normally upright elongate stem extendingloosely through one of the plate openings; a valve head on the lower endof the stem for seating upon the valve seat of the plate; and a camfollower dimensioned and journaled for free rotation axially upon theupper end of the stem, said follower being in position for lateraldisplacement by a cam movable upon said post, to abut the follower andtilt the valve head upon the seat of the plate.

2. The valving unit as specified by claim 1, wherein the rotatable camfollower is substantially hemispherical of shape, with the hemisphericalportion thereof surrounding the uppermost end portion of the stem.

3. The valving unit as specified by claim 2, wherein the uppermostterminal end of the stem is provided with an enlarged button of greaterdiameter than the bore of the follower, the follower being formed of amaterial sufficiently resilient to yield and accommodate the enlargedbutton of the stem as the follower is forced over the button to a homeposition at which the button extends beyond the follower bore.

4. The valving unit as specified by claim 3, wherein the substantiallyhemispherical cam follower is a molded shape, in which the parting lineof the mold is located at a circumferential edge of the hemisphericalshape.

5. The valvin-g unit as specified by claim 1, wherein the valve openingsof the plate are resiliently expandable as to circumference, and the camfollowers are larger than the normal circumference of the valveopenings, the expandability of said openings being sufiicient forpassage of the followers completely through the open-. ings by forcefulprojection.

6. The valving unit as specified by claim 3, wherein the valve openingsof the plate are resiliently expandable as to circumference, and the camfollowers are larger in circumference than the normal circumference ofthe valve openings, the expandability of said openings being sufficientfor passage of the followers completely through the openings by forcefulprojection.

7. The valying unit as specified by claim 1, wherein the cam follower isa substantially hemispherical plastic molded shape, in which the partingline of the mold is located at a circumferential edge of thehemispherical shape.

8. The valving unit as specified 'by claim 3, wherein the material ofthe cam follower is a moldable substance of the class of Celcon.

9. A valve member for a faucet which includes an operating cam to tiltthe valve member relative to a valve body seat, said valve membercomprising: an upright elongate rigid stern; a valve head on the lowerend of the stern presenting a seat in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the stem axis; and a cam follower to be struck by theoperating lever to tilt the stem and the valve head, said follower beingbored for free rotation axially upon the upper end portion of the valvestem.

10. The valve member as specified by claim 9, wherein the rotatable camfollower is substantially hemispherical of shape, with the sphericalportion thereof directed away from the valve head.

11. The valve member as specified by claim 10, wherein the uppermostterminal end of the stem is provided with an enlarged button of greaterdiameter than the bore of the follower, the follower being formed of amaterial sufficiently resilient to yield and accommodate the enlargedbutton of the stem as the follower is forced over the button to a homeposition at which the button extends beyond the follower bore.

12. The valve member as specified by claim 10, wherein the substantiallyhemispherical cam follower is a molded shape, in which the parting lineof the mold is located at a circumferential edge of the underface of thehemispherical shape.

13. The valve member as specified by claim 9, wherein the material ofthe cam follower is a moldable substance of the class of Celcon.

14. The valve member as specified by claim 11 'wherein the enlargedbutton includes a shoulder in opposition to one end of the followerbore, acting to resist withdrawal of the follower off the enlargedbutton end of the stem.

15. The valve member as specified by claim 14, wherein is included meansprecluding shifting of the follower axially along the stem toward thevalve head as the follower rotates upon the stem.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 911,000 1/1909 Fitzgibbon137636.1 X 1,020,076 3/ 1912 Bowser 251-78 1,046,111 12/1912 Schulz25178 X 1,573,210 2/1926 Whidden 137636.2. 1,605,460 11/1926 Ostrander251-77 X 3,155,115 11/1964 Zeigler 137-6364 3,190,306 6/1965 Staat137636.2 X 3,190,309 6/1965 Staat 137-454.6 3,349,802 10/ 1965Christiansen 137-636.4 X

CLARENCE R. GORDON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

